Divine Emperor of Death

"Dewzai from the Devilish Flame Fox Clan. She was a Celestial Fairy of her era but is now most likely an Emperor-Tier Fey. She has hidden herself well…"

"Something is different about little Yi Feng. Although his cultivation is Level Seven Immortal King Stage, he gives the feeling of an Empyreal Monarch, so be careful of him…"

"What the… that's literally an Azure Tree. She transformed into a- woman. A tree lifeform like Stella has come to participate. Watch out for her…" "That Blaze Wolf Fey is also an Emperor-Tier Fey-"

"That Lunaris Family's human inheritor like us is quite the enigma… he probably has the Silvermoon Physique like the deceased Celestial Fairy Selene Lunaris, but he is more powerful…"

"Be careful of that dual cultivator-! He is more dangerous than anyone else."

"…" Evelynn.

"…" Isabella.

"…" Shirley.

The three of them were smiling from ear to ear as they saw him point out adversaries. Despite them telling him to relax, the last one cracked them up. However, looking closely at that upper robe-less man with red hair, they raised their brows as they sensed something in him.

They noticed the power he was from and it seemed to be named the Lust Garden, apparently an ancient power that had secluded itself for a long time and never came out even now.

There were also a few other ancient powers that seemed to have hidden themselves in seclusion long before they could be spotted. Clearly, they were advised by the inheritance masters to stay low and stack power in order to unleash it in the end, while most powers adopted the measure of creating entire clans openly to prosper.

The funny thing was Davis knew some names of Lower Realms and this power called the Lust Garden owned an entire Lower Realm to themselves.

He didn't know how he should grade them, considering powers like the Fire Phoenix Clan and Ice Phoenix Clan also owned Lower Realms. However, he did sense hidden prowess from that dual cultivator, so he aptly warned them.

With only five minutes away from the designated time, Davis saw that the number of Candidates of reached over nine hundred.

Considering that every power had an average of three inheritors, some four and a few of them only two or one because they had lost them during warring periods, there were around three hundred factions in total.

The number couldn't be verified, nor was there a convenient list made for them.

However, he was sure all the intelligence networks were collecting information on these unknown powers at full speed because Mingzhi was doing the same with Black Claymore.

He was relaying info to Mingzhi but he guessed the others should be communicating using simpler methods between main bodies and soul bodies.

As he was giving information to Mingzhi, she used her intelligence network to gain more information on the Candidates. It was important that they could provide Evelynn, Isabella and Shirley with the slightest advantage as possible.

However, he was only able to provide little information about some unique Candidates before the time was up.

The sun was above them, glaring at them below.

It made the crowd extra quiet, and the silence became rather blaring instead.

Suddenly, a particular area began a commotion, but when everyone turned to look in that direction, they were shocked to see an entire structure appear from thin air.

"What the hell? Where did this come from?"

"It has always been here, probably hidden by an illusion…"

Everyone saw a structure appear before the Immortal Dreams Palace.

It appeared to be a white staircase.

A staircase with nine steps, each the size of half a leg, appeared. These stairs led to a platform, and a hundred meters away from the staircase, there was an altar. But hanging over the altar was a spatial vortex that seemed to lead to some unknown space.

Many gathered before the steps, trying to see through what it was.

There was an arch before the stairs as though welcoming them, but the arch didn't have anything indicative of it, leaving them clueless other than the fact that the spatial vortex on the altar was going to take them to the venue.

Climbing stairs was something common in trials. Even their powers possessed similar kinds of constructs.

Was this supposed to test their willpower or prowess? Or something else?

"Hey, look there!"

A person suddenly pointed at the Immortal Dreams Palace. There was some writing on the slab, once again appearing out of nowhere.

[The Candidacy officially begins. After the Candidates all enter the spatial vortex, the Immortal Emperors could enter the Immortal Dreams Palace to train if they want to. This is my parting gift to the denizens of the First Haven World.]

"Woah…"

The Immortal Emperors all rejoiced, but the Candidates couldn't be any pissed.

They lacked information about these stairs, which gave them a headache.

They didn't even know if this was the first trial. If it was, then the number of stairs they would climb could decide their fate in the upcoming trials. Not even a single inheritor tried to carelessly climb the stairs.

Davis was also interested in the Immortal Dreams Palace. However, he was not an Immortal Emperor, so he wondered if he would able to enter but more than that, he reached out his hand and caressed Evelynn's head.

"We can still talk even after the Candidacy began. This is some lax first trial I haven't seen or is this even a trial…?"

"This is indeed the first trial." Evelynn's gaze flashed as she answered with conviction.

"Oh? What makes you say that?"

Davis asked, causing Evelynn to smile lightly.

"The fact that no one dares to climb alone should be enough, but seeing that you're asking, I will say this: these stairs probably decide the starting point of many."

"Starting point… like an advantage?"

"Or perhaps a disadvantage~"

Evelynn pursed her lips, "Or I'm wrong, and it is nothing but a staircase to test willpower."

"…"

Davis couldn't help but chuckle.

His first wife sure was daring when it came to assumptions. He couldn't help but feel pride as he felt like she took after him, knowing to view matters from an unlikely point of view.

The six of them walked closer, and sure enough, once they were near, they could feel this invisible pressure that weighed upon them.

"Heh! Just a stupid staircase. Is there no one brave enough to cross it? Fine, fine, let me do it myself!"

"No, don't be hasty, Atsuo!"

Everyone saw the Fire Dragon Clan's second inheritor, Atsuo, get incensed and approach the staircase while the Fire Dragon Clan's Patriarch warned him not to.

However, Atsuo didn't care.

Without turning to look back, he directly stormed towards the staircase, his fiery silhouette floating before he took the first step.

At that moment, he froze, causing numerous hearts to skip a beat and minds to speculate at the changes rendering right before their eyes.